Learning with Blue-Shirt Tutors: A Unique Classroom Experience

Inspiring Classes with Volunteer Tutors in Blue Shirts

In the bustling classroom at the workers’ residence No. 48 in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City, there’s no chalkboard. Surprisingly crowded, some students even use chairs as desks, sitting on the floor. Yet, the room buzzes with learning and laughter, thanks to the “Blue Shirt Tutors.”

This program has attracted many student volunteers from Ho Chi Minh City, quietly making a difference for weeks.

First Tutoring Session

“Name three provinces starting with ‘Quang’,” challenges Tien Dat, a student from the University of Economics and Finance. The children in the class, including second-grader Huynh Thanh Long, eagerly participate. The room fills with laughter as they list various provinces.

Initially, the host, Nguyen Thi Kim Hong, only expected five children, fitting her living room. To her surprise, not only the children of workers residing in her area but also from neighboring families joined, transforming her house on Tran Thanh Mai Street into a lively hub of learning every Tuesday and Thursday.

Tuấn An, a soon-to-be second-grader and son of workers in the Tan Tao Industrial Park, is shy but excels academically without prior extra tutoring. “This is my first time attending extra classes. I usually wait for my mom to help with difficult homework,” he shares politely.

Lai Ngoc Giao, a ninth-grader, has always been passionate about drawing but never had formal lessons. Thanks to this program, she now learns art techniques from Trung Hau, a student at the Ho Chi Minh City College of Economics.

Light-Hearted Learning and Skill Development

Tran Hong Anh Thy, a student from the University of Finance – Marketing, vividly remembers her initial nervousness. She teaches English and Vietnamese, worried about connecting with the children. “Each child is unique, but their enthusiasm is heartwarming. They’re eager and genuinely interested in learning,” she says.

For Thy, volunteering was about experiencing and giving back. Despite a delayed start, she now feels fulfilled, learning to bond with new friends, comfort a frightened child, and work effectively in a team.

Ngoc Tran, a senior at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education and head of the tutoring class, shares that the group meticulously plans each lesson to make them as meaningful as possible. With only about 45 minutes per session, the focus is on key knowledge areas and playful, interactive activities that develop communication and problem-solving skills.

“With limited time, we aim to not only review academic knowledge but also allow the children to learn and experience as many skills as possible,” says Ngoc Tran.

(Source: Tuoi Tre Online)